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Lake Erie farmer watershed group offers peer-to-peer support
A farmer in the Western Lake Erie Basin says a local peer group is allowing farmers to learn water quality best management practices together.
Lenawee County’s Jim Isley tells Brownfield he joined the River Rasin Watershed Council’s farmer-led working group following the Toledo water crisis.
“And since then we’ve had a lot of opportunities to draw other producers in, showing some of the programs that you can get into that help you produce your crop without the excessive use of fertilizer for example,” he shares.
The group stretches across four counties in the watershed and is committed to reducing phosphorus entering Lake Erie.
Isley says he regularly opens his farm to talk about his experiences using no-till, strip-till, edge of field buffers, water control structures, and other conservation practices with area farmers.
“We’re always willing to share, he says. “Why wouldn’t we be? If they can create a cleaner environment, if they can create cleaner water for us, for the people downstream from us, Blissfield, Deerfield or down to Lake Erie for the people of Toledo, it’s a win-win for all of us.
Isley says investing into conservation efforts to improve soil health and water quality is very important to the success of his farm today and for future generations.
AUDIO: Jim Isley
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